Darryl Rodway

Tell us about URBNET and how it got started.

My business partner and I started URBNET back in the spring of 1999, when we launched our online hip hop and electronic music magazine. After two years of doing the magazine we expanded and started our own record label. We signed a lot of Canadian acts at that time and provided a greatly needed service to the community. Major and independent labels and distributors in Canada wouldn’t look even at picking up artist unless they were on their way to a gold record. There was a void of great indie releases that we brought into retail. Nineteen years later we are still in business as strictly a record label.

What are your duties at URBNET?

Being that we are small business I take on a little bit of everything. I don’t mind though it keeps things interesting from day to day. Primarily, my work here is mainly in the areas of A&R, marketing and promotions. Between my business partner and I we keep everything running amazingly well for a small operation. We have also have an excellent team of freelance and contract employees that help us with admin, grant writing, radio and press promotions.

Tell us a bit about the career path that led to where you are now.

I was in college studying Civil Engineering in Sudbury and got heavily sidetracked with the campus radio station. This was the first time getting on a pair of Technics 1200s, and I gradually just started spending more time in the studio than studying engineering! At that point I knew I had found what I really wanted to do for a living. From there the radio shows were doing well, but I wasn’t making any money, so I picked up DJ gigs at events and nightclubs, working late nights, and then going to school early the next day. The early morning classes mixed with late night gigs didn’t help my grades in my second year of college, so just before the start of my third year of college I decided not to return. Through DJing I met many record label reps and began to take interest in a career in the music business. I landed my first label gig with Universal Music Canada and relocated to Edmonton. I was working part time with them, doing promotions and consulting for their Hip Hop releases for Western Canada. After about a year with Universal I moved over to Sony Music Canada and took on more responsibilities for promoting new hip hop releases to the public and retail. After three years of living out west I relocated back Toronto and launched URBNET in the spring of 1999.

What job do you think you would you be doing if you weren’t running URBNET?

I would probably be working with a major label or maybe would have gone into back into construction business, designing municipal infrastructure.

What band/artist outside the realm of college/indie music would people be surprised to hear you love?

Too many to list! I listen to a bit of everything, but I’m on a bit of a yacht rock kick this summer so I would say Toto.

What destination would you most like to visit and why?

Most definitely Japan, I have always been fascinated with its architecture and urban planning. Another reason to visit is we currently have three artists on our roster from Japan and would be great to hang out with them and check out some live shows.

You just won a million dollars. What are you going to do with it?

If I won a million I would pay off my condo, do some world travel, invest in URBNET, donate to The Unison Benevolent Fund and aim to live debt free.

What is/are your current favorite TV obsession(s)? What is the best movie you’ve seen so far this year?

For TV, Evil Genius, Wild Wild Country, Midsomer Murders and This Old House
Best movie I watched this year was the Sorry To Bother You.

When friends/family come to Toronto, what is your favorite restaurant you take them to?

Curry Twist in Toronto’s junction neighborhood. Best Indian food ever!

You’re stranded on a desert island. What five well known people (dead or alive) would you like to have there with you?

Jordan Peele, Robin Williams, Thom Yorke, Norah Jones and Elon Musk